RFS: State Mine fire under control, but still dangerous

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) says the State Mine fire at Lithgow is now, no longer out of control.

The blaze, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, near the Marrangaroo Army Base has now burnt out more than 24,000 hectares between Lithgow and Mount Tomah.

The RFS has confirmed some properties have been lost.

Yesterday the fire travelled up to 25 kilometres.

Early this morning the fire was still impacting Dargan and Clarence and the RFS was warning properties in Hartley Vale, Mount Wilson, Mount Tomah and Bilpin may come under threat.

The RFS is urging people to delay non-essential travel in the area.

The fire is now listed as under control and has been downgraded to a Watch and Act status.

The Zig Zag Educational Facility remains closed.

Today the area of concern will be down in the Hartley Valley, cause this fire has started to drop off the cliff into the Hartley Valley, and it will spread into that area during the course of the day.

Lithgow RFS Operations Officer, Ian Jackson

Police have requested that sightseers stay away from the fire damaged area surrounding Lithgow, issuing a warning that live wires, fallen trees and hazardous materials are about, making it unsafe.

Measures are in place to protect people's property, and today officers from the Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue New South Wales and the Police Force will be conducting impact assessments of the affected areas to asses the extent of the damage.

Assistant Commissioner for Major Events and Incidents, Alan Clarke, says people will be advised when they can return to their properties.

The Rural Fire Service is warning the State Mine fire near Lithgow is still dangerous and erratic, despite now being listed as under control.

Inspector Ian Jackson, the Operations Officer at the Lithgow RFS, says crews have spent the night trying to save properties around Clarence and Dargan.

Inspector Jackson says although winds have eased overnight and today will be much cooler, the danger is far from over.

"Today the area of concern will be down in the Hartley Valley cause this fire has started to drop off the cliff into the Hartley Valley and it will spread into that area during the course of the day," he said.

"So we'll have crews and some bulldozers etc, down in that area, working down there."

Kristen Forbes from the Transport Management Centre says buses will replace trains between Katoomba and Lithgow on the Blue Mountains rail line today.

She says drivers need to be cautious as well.

"The Bells Line of Road is closed between Lithgow and Bell, so motorists can use the Great Western Highway as an alternative," she said.

"And in Mt Victoria, we have the Darling Causeway closed between Mt Victoria and Bell, so motorists are advised to avoid the area."

Inspector Jackson says it is still a dangerous situation.

"It's still got the potential, even in the Lithgow area, to do some damage," he said.

"We're fairly lucky overnight that the weather conditions cooled right off and wind dropped right down, but we're still getting some fairly erratic fire behaviour in Clarence and Dargen as we speak."

Police are requesting that people not drop off blankets and other items at evacuation centres, as they are currently suitably resourced.

The Salvation Army is helping to run four evacuation centres in the area, including at the Lithgow Workers Club, Bilpin Community Centre, Blackheath Community Centre and Springwood Sports Centre.

The Army's Sandra Edge says hundreds of people have been through the centres since yesterday and many are struggling to cope with the situation.

"It's just that unknown factor," she said.

"Is the house still there? Is it safe to go home?

"Even when they're told it's safe to go home, some of them are a bit unsecure to head home.

"It's that fear of the unknown and they also want someone to go with them."

Free trade is the oldest argument in federal politics and the issue that literally defined the federation era but opposition exists to the TPP, courtesy of the Investor-State Dispute Resolutions clause.